John Donne's The Funeral: Paraphrase and Analysis
"The Funeral"
Ten words or allusions:
dissolution: the action of bringing to an end; the state of being ended
humility: the quality of being humble, humbleness, meekness
idolatry: excessive devotion to or veneration for a person or thing; adoration
manacled: fetter or confine, bind, restrain
martyr: a person who undergoes death or great suffering on behalf of any religious or other cause, or as a consequence of devotion to some object
provinces: a principle administrative division of certain countries, states; a principle division of a kingdom or empire, one historically or linguistically distinct
relics: a part of the body, clothing, or other belongings of a saint, martyr, or other deceased holy person which is carefully preserved as an object of veneration
shroud: a sheet or sheet-like garment in which a corpse is wrapped for burial, etc.
sinewy: the mainstay or chief supporting force of a thing
viceroy: a ruler of a colony, province, etc., exercising authority on behalf of a sovereign; a person in a position of high authority, one acting on behalf of another
Paraphrase of "The Funeral"
Whoever comes to cover me, do not damage
Or ask about
The small braid of hair that encircles my arm;
The obscurity, the symbol you must not disturb,
Because it is my superficial essence
Ruler to that, since I have left for heaven,
Leave this behind to direct,
And keep these limbs, her realm, from dying
The strong nerves of my brain go
Through every part
And bring me together to make me whole,
This hair that grew is long, strong, and beautiful
And from a worthier mind,
I better do it, unless she meant that I
Should know the extent of my pain
Like prisoners are handcuffed, when they are sentenced to execution.
No matter how she meant it, bury it with me
Because I am
Love's slave, it might create adoration,
If this artifact fell into someone else's hands:
It was humble
To make a soul do all it can afford
It takes some courage
Because you didn't
Ten words or allusions:
dissolution: the action of bringing to an end; the state of being ended
humility: the quality of being humble, humbleness, meekness
idolatry: excessive devotion to or veneration for a person or thing; adoration
manacled: fetter or confine, bind, restrain
martyr: a person who undergoes death or great suffering on behalf of any religious or other cause, or as a consequence of devotion to some object
provinces: a principle administrative division of certain countries, states; a principle division of a kingdom or empire, one historically or linguistically distinct
relics: a part of the body, clothing, or other belongings of a saint, martyr, or other deceased holy person which is carefully preserved as an object of veneration
shroud: a sheet or sheet-like garment in which a corpse is wrapped for burial, etc.
sinewy: the mainstay or chief supporting force of a thing
viceroy: a ruler of a colony, province, etc., exercising authority on behalf of a sovereign; a person in a position of high authority, one acting on behalf of another
Paraphrase of "The Funeral"
Whoever comes to cover me, do not damage
Or ask about
The small braid of hair that encircles my arm;
The obscurity, the symbol you must not disturb,
Because it is my superficial essence
Ruler to that, since I have left for heaven,
Leave this behind to direct,
And keep these limbs, her realm, from dying
The strong nerves of my brain go
Through every part
And bring me together to make me whole,
This hair that grew is long, strong, and beautiful
And from a worthier mind,
I better do it, unless she meant that I
Should know the extent of my pain
Like prisoners are handcuffed, when they are sentenced to execution.
No matter how she meant it, bury it with me
Because I am
Love's slave, it might create adoration,
If this artifact fell into someone else's hands:
It was humble
To make a soul do all it can afford
It takes some courage
Because you didn't